Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the EU. Researchers in the EU-funded Survive project examined how cells adapt to acidic conditions – a trait that can allow tumours to grow. Their findings highlight new ways to identify aggressive cancers, and point to potential new treatments to regulate acid resistance.
Analysing biological imagery such as microscope slides can be labour-intensive, especially as not all researchers know how best to automate this with AI. The EU-funded AI4LIFE project provides access to AI technologies, making models and AI-ready data sets open and accessible to everyone. This means researchers can spend more time interpreting data, accelerating scientific discovery.
The steady and debilitating progression of Parkinson’s is thought to be driven by the gradual accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain. The EU-funded SYN-CHARGE project made the surprising discovery that these problem proteins may be targeted by peptide chains made from mirror image amino acids. The work lays the foundation for potential new therapies for several neurodegenerative diseases.
Mercury pollution presents a significant risk to environment and human health, in particular its accumulation in edible fish. The EU-funded Global Mercury Observation and Training network project (ITN GMOS-Train) helped model mercury’s chemical behaviour and fate in land, air and marine environments. The work will support public health initiatives and make more informed dietary choices possible.
Liver disease kills over 130 000 people in Europe every year, driven by obesity, hepatitis and alcohol consumption. The EU-funded FORCE project developed a cutting-edge diagnostic tool to aid early detection of liver disease. The technique, which quantifies the elasticity of soft tissue, can also be used to monitor tumours, improving outcomes for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Airborne pollutants are a threat to researchers and citizens alike. Using low-cost sensing technologies, the EU-funded VIDIS project hopes to deliver more accurate assessments of particulate matter exposure. Routine monitoring of air quality could offer significant health benefits for EU citizens.
Paediatric oncology researchers in Lithuania often lack opportunities for international research and training. The EU-funded TREL project helped place 32 specialists from Lithuania in Europe’s leading medical institutions. The programme is already having an impact on the treatment of paediatric cancers in Lithuania, and accelerating scientific excellence in this research area.
Synaesthesia, a neurological condition associated with anxiety disorders and autism, is difficult to identify in children. The EU-funded SYN-TOOLKIT project developed a new method to gather evidence of this perceptual phenomenon. The research has led to the development of a diagnostic smartphone app that could help these individuals access support.
The potential for mRNA goes well beyond the COVID-19 vaccine. With the support of the EU-funded MOSaIC project, one research centre in Poland is conducting cutting-edge research in the field, paving the way for new treatments against diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and genetic conditions.
Miniature medical devices have the potential to screen, monitor, diagnose and treat a range of body functions, conditions and diseases. But implanting these devices into the body requires safe, non-toxic materials. The biocompatible materials developed by the EU-funded BioWings project could open the door to a new era of medical innovation for EU citizens and the world.
